Dell delivers its first Chromebook — and gives Google another big hardware partner

Dell today announced the Chromebook 11, the company’s first foray into Google’s take on laptops. Aimed at schools and students, the sub-$300 device features 16GB of internal storage, a 11.6-inch, 1366 x 768 display, and 1o hours of battery life.

Either way, Dell’s entry is hugely symbolic for Google, which now has the four biggest PC makers signed onto its Chromebook effort. Considering the tepid consumer response that’s greeted Windows 8 so far, the manufacturer enthusiasm for Chromebooks shouldn’t be the biggest surprise.

Th 4GB Dell Chromebook will be available next month, while the 2GB version is pegged for a “first quarter 2014″ release.